The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has successfully intercepted a large consignment of counterfeit pharmaceutical products with a duty-paid value of approximately N596.86 million.
Area Controller Dr. Ben Oramalugo revealed this significant seizure during a press briefing held at the Command headquarters in Ibadan on Wednesday. He noted that the illegal pharmaceuticals were discovered in a truck intercepted at the Iwere Ile axis in Oke Ogun, Oyo State.
The confiscated products included various counterfeit medications such as Analgin injections, Amoxicillin capsules, Buscomac tablets, Chloramphenicol tablets, Ampiclox capsules, Juscopan tablets, Arthromether tablets, Fulcin tablets, and Pentazocine injections. The truck driver was apprehended but subsequently granted bail.
In addition to the fake drugs, Customs officers also intercepted other contraband items, including 433 bags of 50-kilogramme foreign parboiled rice, 61 bales and 20 sacks of used clothing, 8,850 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) in 25-liter kegs, 49 sacks of cannabis sativa, and 93 used tyres. These items carry a combined duty-paid value of N159.04 million.
The fake drugs and cannabis were handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further action.
Dr. Oramalugo shared that the Command generated N23.97 billion in revenue in the third quarter of 2024, reflecting a 27.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. From January to September this year, cumulative revenue reached N56.66 billion, marking a 7.85% increase over the previous year’s N52.21 billion.
The Area Controller attributed this achievement to enhanced compliance, enforcement, and monitoring, as well as the integration of advanced technology like NICIS II, which has streamlined processes and increased transparency. He praised the officers’ dedication to enforcing customs regulations and supporting legitimate trade, highlighting their role in bolstering Nigeria’s economic recovery.
Mrs. Roseline Ajayi, NAFDAC Director for the South West Zone, expressed gratitude to the Customs Command for their collaboration, noting that this was the second significant handover of counterfeit and substandard products to NAFDAC this year. She confirmed that the seized drugs would undergo public destruction to prevent re-entry into the market.
Additionally, NDLEA Chief Superintendent Abogunrin Olatunji indicated that the cannabis sativa would be destroyed publicly upon receiving Federal High Court approval.
The successful operations underscore the ongoing commitment of the Oyo/Osun Area Command to safeguarding public health, enforcing customs laws, and generating revenue despite prevailing economic challenges.
